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The Once and Future Prime Ministers of Israel

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Former Leaders in Modern Democracies

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Political Leadership Series ((PSPL))

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Abstract

For eight of Israel’s 12 former prime ministers (so far), departure from office was not final. Five of them have found their way back to premiership: David Ben-Gurion, Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, Yitzhak Shamir and Benjamin Netanyahu. Three former premiers had had hopes for a change of fortune. Moshe Sharett, who had left office in 1955, strove briefly for a political come back, but his political power base was scant, and then he became terminally ill. Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert, who are both in their 60s at present, stand a theoretical chance of return to the prime minister’s office, and are still hopeful. Given the circumstances under which each of them has left office, however, and their lack of party and public support, there are very slim chances that either of them will ever secure the premiership again.

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Authors
  1. Dan Korn
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Leeds, UK

    Kevin Theakston (Professor of British Government and Head of the School of Politics) (Professor of British Government and Head of the School of Politics)

  2. Leiden University, the Netherlands

    Jouke de Vries (Professor of Public Administration and Dean of Campus Den Haag) (Professor of Public Administration and Dean of Campus Den Haag)

Copyright information

© 2012 Dan Korn

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Korn, D. (2012). The Once and Future Prime Ministers of Israel. In: Theakston, K., de Vries, J. (eds) Former Leaders in Modern Democracies. Palgrave Studies in Political Leadership Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137265319_11

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